tom generally of all the godly of our nation, until
within these few years."

"You have flushed a new covey," said Winthrop, with a smile.

"Nay; it is a chicken of the same brood," said an Assistant.

"Call it what you will," answered Endicott. "It may be a chicken, if
you please, or a hawk, or whatever else your learnings may call it,
but I do declare and manifest my dislike and detestation of such
wearing of long hair, as against a thing uncivil and unmanly, whereby
men deform themselves, and offend sober and modest persons, and
corrupt good manners."

"This is but a thing indifferent," broke in Dudley. "It will be time
enough to think thereof, when no business of moment is before us."

"Call you that a thing indifferent," demanded Endicott, "which is
plainly reprobated in Scripture?"

"I would have you notice," answered the Deputy, "that the custom is
nowhere prohibited. The apostle doth merely speak of it as of
something contrary to usage in his days."

"Brother Dudley--Brother Dudley," said Endicott, "I read not so the
Epistle of Paul. Thus speaks he: 'Doth not nature itself teach you
that if a man have long hair it is a shame unto him?'"

"Spoke Paul in this wise," inquired Dudley, "as Paul the inspired
messenger, or as Paul the fallible man?"

"Have a care, brother Dudley," said Endicott. "These be dangerous
distinctions. What is written is written for our learning, and I will
not curiously inquire into the amount of inspiration therein, having
no gauge whereby to determine its measure."

The conversation, much to the relief of Dudley, who found himself,
somehow or other, speaking in opposition to Endicott in a matter
wherein the opinions and feelings of the two did not after all
materially differ, was here interrupted by the opening of a door and
the introduction of the lady. She was clothed entirely in black, with
a veil of the same color covering her head, and falling so low as
completely to conceal her features. With a modest mien she followed
the servitor, and, at a courteous wave of the hand and inclination of
the body from Winthrop, took a seat near the Secretary, a little aback
from the table.

"She is attired," said an Assistant to another, "as if she did divine
the thoughts of Endicott. For the sake of her veil she ought to find
favor in his eyes."

"Yet see how he doth eye her, as if his fiery glances longed to burn
up the envious screen. He would tell us, I fancy, that he confines his